JP3448704B2 - Optical touch panel device - Google Patents
Optical touch panel deviceInfo
- Publication number
- JP3448704B2 JP3448704B2 JP07127999A JP7127999A JP3448704B2 JP 3448704 B2 JP3448704 B2 JP 3448704B2 JP 07127999 A JP07127999 A JP 07127999A JP 7127999 A JP7127999 A JP 7127999A JP 3448704 B2 JP3448704 B2 JP 3448704B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- light
- optical path
- touch panel
- light emitting
- optical
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【発明の属する技術分野】本発明は光学式タッチパネル
装置に関し、特に、タッチパネルに表示したキーボード
の任意のキーをタッチ操作によって押圧することによ
り、当該キーの座標位置に対応する情報を入力可能とす
る、情報機器の入力装置としての光学式タッチパネル装
置に属する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical touch panel device, and in particular, by pressing an arbitrary key of a keyboard displayed on the touch panel by a touch operation, information corresponding to the coordinate position of the key can be input. Belongs to an optical touch panel device as an input device of information equipment.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】タッチパネルに表示されるキーボードの
任意のキーをタッチ操作することにより、当該キーに対
応する入力を可能として情報機器の入力装置として機能
する光学式タッチパネル装置は、多くの利用分野で多用
されている。この光学式タッチパネル装置は、マニュア
ルタッチ操作面としての方形のタッチパネルを備えたタ
ッチパネル基板の下方に、複数の発光素子と受光素子間
の光の送受光に基づいて、光路を空間的に所定の間隔で
縦横に発生して直角座標系を表現する光路マトリックス
を形成し、この光路マトリックスの縦横の交点に相当す
る部分をタッチ操作で押圧して光路を遮断した時の受光
素子の受光状態に基づいてタッチ操作点の座標で指定さ
れる入力情報を、情報機器のシステムコントロール部な
どに入力せしめるように機能する。2. Description of the Related Art An optical touch panel device that enables an input corresponding to the key by touching an arbitrary key of a keyboard displayed on the touch panel and functions as an input device of information equipment has been used in many fields of application. It is used a lot. This optical touch panel device has a light path between a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements, which are spatially spaced at predetermined intervals below a touch panel substrate provided with a rectangular touch panel as a manual touch operation surface. Based on the light receiving state of the light receiving element when the light path is blocked by pressing the part corresponding to the vertical and horizontal intersections of this light path matrix by touch operation It functions to input the input information specified by the coordinates of the touch operation point to the system control unit of the information device.
【０００３】図６は、従来の光学式タッチパネル装置の
全体構成を示す平面図である。従来の光学式タッチパネ
ル装置は、図６に示すように、液晶やＣＲＴなどを表示
媒体とする情報機器の画像表示装置１０と、画像表示装
置１０の上部に配設され、タッチパネルとしての座標位
置検出面３０を備えたタッチパネル基板２０と、マニュ
アルタッチ操作を施されてタッチ操作位置の座標情報を
検出せしめるタッチパネルとしての座標位置検出面３０
と、座標位置検出面３０の下方近傍に光路マトリックス
を形成すべく、タッチパネル基板２０の上下及び左右の
直交する周辺の一方の組の水平及び垂直方向にそれぞ
れ、プリント基板等を利用して等間隔に配列されて成る
複数個のＬＥＤ(Light Emitting Diode)等の発光素子４
０Ｈ−１，４０Ｈ−２，……，４０Ｈ−８及び４０Ｖ−
１，４０Ｖ−２，……，４０Ｖ−６と、これら発光素子
の送出光を受光して光路を確保すべく、発光素子のそれ
ぞれに対向してタッチパネル基板２０の他の直交する周
辺の組の水平方向及び垂直方向にそれぞれプリント基板
等を利用して等間隔に配列されて成るホトトランジスタ
等の受光素子５０Ｈ−１，５０Ｈ−２，……，５０Ｈ−
８及び５０Ｖ−１，５０Ｖ−２，……，５０Ｖ−６を備
えて構成される。これら発受光素子の数は、装置の運用
目的や後述する座標位置検出分解能等に基づいて任意に
決定される。FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the overall structure of a conventional optical touch panel device. As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional optical touch panel device is provided with an image display device 10 of an information device using a liquid crystal, a CRT or the like as a display medium, and is arranged above the image display device 10 to detect coordinate position as a touch panel. A touch panel substrate 20 having a surface 30 and a coordinate position detection surface 30 as a touch panel for performing manual touch operation to detect coordinate information of a touch operation position.
In order to form an optical path matrix in the vicinity of the lower part of the coordinate position detection surface 30, one pair of vertical and horizontal peripherals of the touch panel substrate 20 is equally spaced in the horizontal and vertical directions using a printed circuit board or the like. Light-emitting elements 4 such as a plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) arranged in a matrix
0H-1, 40H-2, ..., 40H-8 and 40V-
1, 40V-2, ..., 40V-6, and another orthogonal peripheral set of the touch panel substrate 20 facing each of the light emitting elements so as to secure the optical path by receiving the light emitted from these light emitting elements. Photosensitive elements 50H-1, 50H-2, ..., 50H-, such as phototransistors, which are arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction at equal intervals using a printed circuit board or the like.
8 and 50V-1, 50V-2, ..., 50V-6. The number of these light emitting / receiving elements is arbitrarily determined based on the operation purpose of the apparatus, the coordinate position detection resolution described later, and the like.
【０００４】次に、図６の従来の光学式タッチパネル装
置の動作について説明する。発光素子４０Ｖ−１，４０
Ｖ−２，……，４０Ｖ−６のそれぞれからは、出力光が
矢印で示す如く、順次所定のシーケンスで次々に発光し
出光され、この出力光が対向する受光素子５０Ｖ−１，
５０Ｖ−２，……，５０Ｖ−６でそれぞれ入力光として
受光され、直交座標系の水平方向の複数の光路が形成さ
れる。一方、発光素子４０Ｈ−１，４０Ｈ−２，……，
４０Ｈ−８のそれぞれの出力光は、２重矢印で示す如く
順次所定のシーケンスで次々に出光され、対向する受光
素子５０Ｈ−１，５０Ｈ−２，……，５０Ｈ−８でそれ
ぞれ受光されて直交座標系の垂直方向の複数の光路が形
成され、かくして空間的に光路マトリックスが形成され
る。Next, the operation of the conventional optical touch panel device of FIG. 6 will be described. Light emitting device 40V-1, 40
From each of V-2, ..., 40V-6, the output light is sequentially emitted in a predetermined sequence as shown by an arrow and emitted, and the output light is opposed to the light receiving element 50V-1,
50V-2, ..., 50V-6 are respectively received as input light, and a plurality of optical paths in the horizontal direction of the rectangular coordinate system are formed. On the other hand, the light emitting elements 40H-1, 40H-2, ...,
The respective output lights of 40H-8 are sequentially emitted in a predetermined sequence as shown by double arrows, and are received by the light receiving elements 50H-1, 50H-2, ... A plurality of optical paths in the vertical direction of the coordinate system are formed, and thus an optical path matrix is spatially formed.
【０００５】このようにして、直交座標系を構成する光
路マトリックスが空間的に形成され、座標位置検出面３
０上で、光路マトリックスの交点として表現される位置
をタッチパネルとしての座標位置検出面３０上に表示さ
れる所望のキーに対するマニュアルタッチ操作で押圧し
て当該光路マトリックスの光路を遮断すると、このタッ
チ操作位置の座標に対応する座標の検出が行われ、この
結果、検出位置に対応する入力情報がシステムコントロ
ール部に入力され、かくして入力装置としての機能が実
行される。In this way, the optical path matrix forming the orthogonal coordinate system is spatially formed, and the coordinate position detecting surface 3 is formed.
0, the position expressed as the intersection of the optical path matrix is pressed by a manual touch operation on a desired key displayed on the coordinate position detection surface 30 as a touch panel to interrupt the optical path of the optical path matrix. The coordinates corresponding to the coordinates of the position are detected, and as a result, the input information corresponding to the detected position is input to the system control unit, and thus the function as the input device is executed.
【０００６】上述した従来の光学式タッチパネル装置に
あっては、座標位置検出面に対するマニュアルタッチ操
作で確保される座標位置検出における検出分解能は、水
平方向及び垂直方向に配列する発光素子と受光素子の対
で形成される光路の間隔、即ち、対向する発光素子と受
光素子対の配列間隔に依存して決定される。In the above-mentioned conventional optical touch panel device, the detection resolution in coordinate position detection secured by the manual touch operation on the coordinate position detection surface is the same as that of the light emitting element and the light receiving element arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions. It is determined depending on the distance between the optical paths formed by the pair, that is, the arrangement distance between the opposing light emitting element and light receiving element pair.
【０００７】[0007]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】従来の光学式タッチパ
ネル装置の座標位置検出面における検出分解能は、対向
する発光素子と受光素子対の配列間隔に依存し、この配
列間隔を短縮するほど検出分解能が向上する。従って、
検出分解能を高めるためには、所望の検出分解能に対応
して発光素子と受光素子の対数を増大することが必要と
なり、このことは、装置規模の検出分解能に対応した増
大とともに、発受光素子数の増大に伴う装置信頼性の低
下を招き、且つ、装置価格も増大するという問題点があ
る。The detection resolution on the coordinate position detecting surface of the conventional optical touch panel device depends on the arrangement interval between the light emitting element and the light receiving element pair facing each other. The shorter the arrangement interval, the higher the detection resolution. improves. Therefore,
In order to increase the detection resolution, it is necessary to increase the number of pairs of light emitting elements and light receiving elements corresponding to the desired detection resolution. This means that the number of light emitting and receiving elements increases with the increase in the detection resolution of the device scale. However, there is a problem in that the reliability of the device is lowered due to the increase of the device cost and the device price is also increased.
【０００８】本発明の目的は、上述した問題点を解決
し、検出分解能を低下せしめることなく、使用する発受
光素子の総数を従来装置の１／２に減縮可能とし、且
つ、タッチパネル基板の２組の水平及び垂直方向の周辺
の組の他方の１組に対し配列すべき受光素子は不要とし
て発受光素子配列のためのプリント基板の配置を不要と
して構造を著しく簡素化し得て動作速度の迅速化も確保
し得る、安価な構成の光学式タッチパネル装置を提供す
ることにある。An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to reduce the total number of light emitting and receiving elements to be used to half of the conventional device without lowering the detection resolution, and to reduce the touch panel substrate to 2 The light receiving element to be arranged for the other one of the horizontal and vertical peripheral groups is unnecessary, and the arrangement of the printed circuit board for the arrangement of the light emitting and receiving elements is not necessary, and the structure can be remarkably simplified and the operating speed is fast. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical touch panel device having a low cost structure that can also be realized.
【０００９】[0009]
【課題を解決するための手段】上述した目的を達成する
ため、本発明の光学式タッチパネル装置は、次の手段構
成を有する。即ち、光学式タッチパネル装置に関する本
発明の第１の発明の構成は、タッチパネルを配設して成
るタッチパネル基板周辺の対向する水平方向と垂直方向
との間に、発光素子と受光素子間の送受光に基づいて直
交座標系を表現する光路マトリックスを形成し、タッチ
パネルに対するタッチ操作で光路マトリックスの光路を
遮断することによりタッチ操作を施した位置の座標情報
を検出する光学式タッチパネル装置であって、１つの発
光素子と、この発光素子の両側に前記座標情報の検出分
解能に対応して設定した配列間隔で配置する２つの受光
素子とから成る発受光素子の１組を配列単位となし、こ
の配列単位を前記タッチパネル基板周辺の直交する一方
の組の水平方向と垂直方向とにそれぞれ複数前記配列間
隔を保って配列する発受光素子配列手段と、前記発受光
素子配列手段の配列単位ごとの発光素子の出力光を前記
タッチパネル基板周辺の直交する他方の組の水平方向と
垂直方向とにおいて受光したうえこれを２分岐し、２分
岐したそれぞれの光路に対して互いに反対方向に９０°
の光路変更を２度施し、入力光と前記配列間隔を保って
平行且つ逆方向に進行させて前記配列単位ごとの２つの
受光素子に受光せしめることにより、前記発受光素子配
列手段の配列単位ごとに互いに前記配列間隔を保って平
行な３本の光路を発生しつつ前記光路マトリックスを形
成せしめる光路変更手段とを備えた構成を有する。In order to achieve the above object, the optical touch panel device of the present invention has the following means configuration. That is, the configuration of the first invention of the present invention relating to the optical touch panel device is to transmit / receive light between the light emitting element and the light receiving element between the facing horizontal direction and the vertical direction on the periphery of the touch panel substrate formed by disposing the touch panel. An optical touch panel device for detecting coordinate information of a position where a touch operation is performed by forming an optical path matrix expressing a Cartesian coordinate system on the basis of, and interrupting the optical path of the optical path matrix by touch operation on the touch panel. One light emitting element and two light receiving elements arranged on both sides of the light emitting element at an array interval set corresponding to the detection resolution of the coordinate information are used as an array unit. A plurality of light emitting / receiving elements, each of which is arranged in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction of one set of the orthogonal to the periphery of the touch panel substrate while maintaining the above arrangement interval. The output light from the light emitting elements for each array unit of the array means and the light emitting and receiving element array means is received in the other pair of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction which are orthogonal to each other around the touch panel substrate, and the light is branched into two, and the light is branched into two. 90 ° in the opposite direction to each optical path
By changing the optical path twice, the light is made to travel in parallel and opposite directions with the input light while maintaining the arrangement interval, and the light is received by the two light receiving elements for each of the array units. And an optical path changing means for forming the optical path matrix while generating three parallel optical paths with the arrangement intervals kept therebetween.
【００１０】また、光学式タッチパネル装置に関する本
発明の第２の発明の構成は、タッチパネルを配設して成
るタッチパネル基板周辺の対向する水平方向と垂直方向
との間に、発光素子と受光素子間の送受光に基づいて直
交座標系を表現する光路マトリックスを形成し、タッチ
パネルに対するタッチ操作で光路マトリックスの光路を
遮断することによりタッチ操作を施した位置の座標情報
を検出する光学式タッチパネル装置であって、１つの受
光素子と、この受光素子の両側に前記座標情報の検出分
解能に対応して設定した配列間隔で配置する２つの発光
素子とから成る発受光素子の１組を配列単位となし、こ
の配列単位を前記タッチパネル基板の直交する一方の組
の水平方向と垂直方向とにそれぞれ複数前記配列間隔を
保って配列する発受光素子配列手段と、前記発受光素子
配列手段の配列単位ごとの２つの発光素子による２つの
出力光を前記タッチパネル基板周辺の直交する他方の組
の水平方向と垂直方向とにおいて受光したそれぞれの光
路に対して互いに反対方向に９０°の光路変更を２度施
し、前記２つの出力光の中心方向に集光して２つの出力
光とは逆方向に進行させて前記配列単位ごとの受光素子
に受光せしめることにより、前記発受光素子配列手段の
配列単位ごとに互いに前記配列間隔を保って平行な３本
の光路を発生しつつ前記光路マトリックスを形成せしめ
る光路変更手段とを備た構成を有する。The second aspect of the present invention relating to the optical touch panel device is that between the light emitting element and the light receiving element between the facing horizontal and vertical directions around the touch panel substrate on which the touch panel is arranged. An optical touch panel device that forms an optical path matrix that expresses a Cartesian coordinate system based on the light transmission and reception of, and detects the coordinate information of the position where the touch operation is performed by blocking the optical path of the optical path matrix by touch operation on the touch panel. And one set of light emitting / receiving elements consisting of one light receiving element and two light emitting elements arranged on both sides of the light receiving element at an array interval set corresponding to the detection resolution of the coordinate information is set as an array unit, A plurality of array units are arrayed in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction of one set of the touch panel substrate, which are orthogonal to each other, with the array spacing being maintained. Optical paths for receiving two output lights from the optical element array means and the two light emitting elements for each array unit of the light emitting and receiving element array means in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the other pair of the orthogonal to the periphery of the touch panel substrate. The optical paths are changed twice by 90 ° in opposite directions to each other, and the light is condensed in the central direction of the two output lights and travels in the direction opposite to the two output lights to form a light receiving element for each array unit. An optical path changing means for forming the optical path matrix while generating three parallel optical paths with the array spacing maintained for each array unit of the light emitting and receiving element array means by receiving light.
【００１１】また、光学式タッチパネル装置に関する本
発明の第３の発明の構成は、タッチパネルを配設して成
るタッチパネル基板周辺の対向する水平方向と垂直方向
との間に、発光素子と受光素子間の送受光に基づいて直
交座標系を表現する光路マトリックスを形成し、タッチ
パネルに対するタッチ操作で光路マトリックスの光路を
遮断することによりタッチ操作を施した位置の座標情報
を検出する光学式タッチパネル装置であって、前記座標
情報の検出分解能に対応して設定した配列間隔で配置す
る２つの発光素子と、これら発光素子のいずれか一方に
隣り合わせ且つ前記配列間隔を保って配置する１つの受
光素子とから成る発受光素子の１組を配列単位となし、
この配列単位を前記タッチパネル基板周辺の直交する一
方の組の水平方向と垂直方向とにそれぞれ複数前記配列
間隔を保って配列する発受光素子配列手段と、前記発受
光素子配列手段の配列単位ごとの２つの発光素子の出力
光を前記タッチパネル基板周辺の直交する他方の組の水
平方向と垂直方向とで受け、この２つの入力光のそれぞ
れの光路に対して９０°の光路変更を施して同方向を指
向せしめて集光したのち、この集光の光路に９０°光路
変更を施して前記配列単位ごとの受光素子に受光せしめ
ることにより、前記発受光素子配列手段の配列単位ごと
に互いに前記配列間隔を保って平行な３本の光路を発生
しつつ前記光路マトリックスを形成せしめる光路変更手
段とを備えた構成を有する。The third aspect of the present invention relating to the optical touch panel device is such that a light emitting element and a light receiving element are provided between the facing horizontal and vertical directions around the touch panel substrate on which the touch panel is arranged. An optical touch panel device that forms an optical path matrix that expresses a Cartesian coordinate system based on the light transmission and reception of, and detects the coordinate information of the position where the touch operation is performed by blocking the optical path of the optical path matrix by touch operation on the touch panel. And two light emitting elements arranged at array intervals set corresponding to the detection resolution of the coordinate information, and one light receiving element adjacent to one of the light emitting elements and arranged at the array interval. One set of light emitting and receiving elements is used as an array unit,
A plurality of the light emitting and receiving element array means for arranging a plurality of the array units in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of one pair of the orthogonal to the periphery of the touch panel substrate, respectively, and the array unit of the light emitting and receiving element array means. The output light of the two light emitting elements is received in the other set of the orthogonal and horizontal directions around the touch panel substrate, and the optical paths of the two input lights are changed by 90 ° in the same direction. After converging and converging light, the optical path of this condensing is changed by 90 ° so that the light receiving element for each array unit receives the light. And an optical path changing means for forming the optical path matrix while maintaining three parallel optical paths.
【００１２】また、本発明の第１の発明の光学式タッチ
パネル装置の構成は、前記光路変更手段による入力光の
２分岐並びにこの２分岐による分光の２度の９０°光路
変更を、複数の平面反射鏡の組み合わせ反射による光路
の変更、もしくはアクリル樹脂等の導光性媒体で形成す
る複数の直角プリズムの全反射による光路の変更、また
は光ファイバの形状設定による光路の変更のいずれかに
基づいて確保する構成を有する。Further, in the structure of the optical touch panel device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the two branches of the input light by the optical path changing means and the two 90 ° optical path change of the spectrum by the two branches are performed on a plurality of planes. Based on either the change of the optical path by the combined reflection of the reflecting mirrors, the change of the optical path by the total reflection of a plurality of rectangular prisms made of a light guide medium such as acrylic resin, or the change of the optical path by setting the shape of the optical fiber. It has a configuration to secure.
【００１３】また、本発明の第２の発明の光学式タッチ
パネル装置の構成は、前記光路変更手段による２つの入
力光の集光と、この集光の２つの入力光に対する逆方向
の平行送光とを、複数の平面反射鏡の組み合わせ反射に
よる光路の変更、もしくはアクリル樹脂等の導光性媒体
で形成する複数の直角プリズムの全反射による光路の変
更、または光ファイバの形状設定による光路の変更のい
ずれかに基づいて確保する構成を有する。The optical touch panel device according to the second aspect of the present invention has a structure in which two input lights are condensed by the optical path changing means and parallel light is transmitted in a direction opposite to the two input lights. And the change of the optical path by the combined reflection of a plurality of plane reflecting mirrors, or the change of the optical path by the total reflection of a plurality of right-angle prisms formed of a light guide medium such as acrylic resin, or the change of the optical path by setting the shape of the optical fiber. Has a configuration to be secured based on any of the above.
【００１４】また、本発明の第３の発明の光学式タッチ
パネル装置の構成は、前記光路変更手段による２つの入
力光の集光と、この集光の入力光に対する逆方向の平行
送光を、複数の平面反射鏡と半透過鏡の反射並びに組み
合わせ反射による光路の変更、もしくはアクリル樹脂等
の導光性媒体で形成する複数の直角プリズムの全反射に
よる光路の変更、または光ファイバの形状設定並びに複
数利用のいずれかに基づいて確保する構成を有する。Further, in the configuration of the optical touch panel device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the two optical paths are condensed by the optical path changing means, and parallel light is transmitted in the opposite direction to the condensed input light. Changing the optical path by reflection and combination reflection of a plurality of plane reflecting mirrors and semi-transmissive mirrors, or changing the optical path by total reflection of a plurality of right-angle prisms formed of a light guide medium such as acrylic resin, or setting the shape of an optical fiber. It has a configuration that is secured based on one of a plurality of uses.
【００１５】[0015]
【発明の実施の形態】タッチパネルに対するマニュアル
タッチ操作でタッチ位置の直交座標を検出し、検出座標
位置に対応する情報を入力可能とする従来の光学式タッ
チパネル装置は、キーボードを表示したタッチパネルの
下方に光路マトリックスを空間的に形成し、光路マトリ
ックスの交点となる部分をタッチ操作により光路を遮断
して座標位置を検出可能ならしめている。上述した光路
マトリックスは、タッチパネル（座標位置検出面）を介
在させて対向する発光素子と受光素子対の複数対を配列
してその送受光により形成しており、直交座標上の位置
検出における検出分解能は、発光素子と受光素子対の対
間の配列間隔で決定される。従って、利用目的や装置構
成条件等の運用条件に対応して検出分解能を向上させる
ためには、配列間隔の短縮が前提となる。BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A conventional optical touch panel device capable of detecting Cartesian coordinates of a touch position by a manual touch operation on a touch panel and inputting information corresponding to the detected coordinate position is provided below a touch panel displaying a keyboard. The optical path matrix is spatially formed, and the optical path is blocked by touching the intersection point of the optical path matrix so that the coordinate position can be detected. The above-mentioned optical path matrix is formed by transmitting and receiving a plurality of pairs of a light emitting element and a light receiving element which face each other with a touch panel (coordinate position detection surface) interposed therebetween, and the detection resolution in position detection on Cartesian coordinates. Is determined by the arrangement interval between the pair of the light emitting element and the light receiving element. Therefore, in order to improve the detection resolution in accordance with the purpose of use and the operating conditions such as the device configuration conditions, it is necessary to shorten the array interval.
【００１６】従って、光学式タッチパネル装置の検出分
解能を上げて利用したい場合には、発光素子と受光素子
の対向配列数を分解能に対応して増大することが必要と
なる。しかしながら、このような配列条件に依存して検
出分解能を向上させることは、装置の肥大化を招くとと
もに、発受光素子数の増大が動作速度の低下と品質低下
とを招き、また装置コストも上昇するという問題点があ
る。Therefore, when it is desired to increase the detection resolution of the optical touch panel device and use it, it is necessary to increase the number of facing arrays of the light emitting element and the light receiving element corresponding to the resolution. However, improving the detection resolution depending on such array conditions leads to enlargement of the device, an increase in the number of light emitting and receiving elements causes a decrease in operating speed and quality, and also an increase in device cost. There is a problem of doing.
【００１７】本発明は、このような問題点を解消した光
学式タッチパネル装置を提供すべく為されたもので、同
一検出分解能ならば発受光素子の配列対数と配列基板と
を従来装置の１／２に減縮し、装置の肥大化とコスト高
化を抑圧し、且つ動作速度の迅速化も確保することを可
能ならしめることを目的とするものである。The present invention has been made in order to provide an optical touch panel device that solves the above problems. If the detection resolution is the same, the number of array pairs of the light emitting and receiving elements and the array substrate are 1/1 of those of the conventional device. The object of the present invention is to reduce the size to 2, suppress the enlargement of the device and the increase in cost, and ensure the speedup of the operation.
【００１８】この目的達成のための実施の形態として、
本発明の第１の発明では、図１に示すように、従来の光
学式タッチパネル装置が、発光素子と受光素子との対向
対を配列単位としているのに代え、例えば、タッチパネ
ル基板３の水平方向にあっては、１つの発光素子と２つ
の受光素子、例えば、発光素子４Ｈ−１及び受光素子５
Ｈ−１Ａ，５Ｈ−１Ｂの発受光素子の組を配列単位と
し、一方、垂直方向にあっては、発光素子４Ｖ−１及び
受光素子５Ｖ−１Ａ，５Ｖ−１Ｂの発受光素子の組を配
列単位とし、これら水平方向及び垂直方向の配列単位を
それぞれ複数、配列単位内及び配列単位間で互いに分解
能を決定する所定の等間隔を保って配列する。As an embodiment for achieving this object,
In the first invention of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, instead of the conventional optical touch panel device using an opposed pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element as an array unit, for example, in the horizontal direction of the touch panel substrate 3. In this case, one light emitting element and two light receiving elements, for example, the light emitting element 4H-1 and the light receiving element 5
In the vertical direction, a set of light emitting / receiving elements of H-1A and 5H-1B is used as an array unit, while a set of light emitting / receiving elements of light emitting element 4V-1 and light receiving elements 5V-1A, 5V-1B is arranged in the vertical direction. As a unit, a plurality of these horizontal and vertical array units are arrayed, respectively, and are arrayed at a predetermined equal interval that determines mutual resolution within the array unit and between the array units.
【００１９】一方、タッチパネル基板３上の、他の直交
する水平、垂直方向の対向する周辺には、水平方向及び
垂直方向の発受光素子の配列単位のそれぞれと対応し
て、これら配列単位の発光素子の出力光を受けて、その
光路を２分岐し反転送光せしめる光路変更体６Ｈ−１，
６Ｈ−２，……，６Ｈ−Ｎ及び６Ｖ−１，６Ｖ−２，…
…，６Ｖ−Ｍをそれぞれ、従来の受光素子配列に代えて
配列配置する。On the other hand, on the other periphery of the touch panel substrate 3, which is opposed to each other in the horizontal and vertical directions, which are orthogonal to each other, the light emission of these array units is made to correspond to the array units of the light emitting and receiving elements in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. An optical path changing body 6H-1, which receives the output light of the element and bifurcates the optical path to make the light anti-transfer light,
6H-2, ..., 6H-N and 6V-1, 6V-2, ...
, 6V-M are arranged in place of the conventional light receiving element arrangement.
【００２０】このような発受光素子の配列単位と、光路
変更体との対向配列に基づき、発受光素子の配列単位の
含む発光素子の出力光を光路変更体の中央部に投光し、
この投光を光路変更体で２分岐したものにそれぞれ、２
回の９０°反射を行わせて発光素子の出力光とは平行、
且つ逆方向に反射せしめて、配列単位の発受光素子の受
光素子に受光せしめることにより、位置検出面上に、水
平方向もしくは垂直方向に、３本の平行な光路を形成す
る。Based on such an array arrangement of the light emitting / receiving element and the optical path changing body, the output light of the light emitting element included in the light emitting / receiving element array unit is projected to the central portion of the optical path changing body.
This projection is divided into two by the light path changing body,
Parallel to the output light of the light emitting element by performing 90 times reflection.
Further, the light is reflected by the opposite direction and is received by the light receiving element of the light emitting and receiving element of the array unit, thereby forming three parallel optical paths in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction on the position detection surface.
【００２１】このような３本の平行な光路を形成するに
は、従来の光学式タッチパネル装置にあっては、発光素
子と受光素子の対向する対数を３対として、即ち、３個
の発光素子と３個の受光素子とで形成する必要があった
が、本発明の第１の発明では、１つの発光素子と、２つ
の受光素子並びに平面反射鏡を利用する１個の光路変更
体とで形成可能とし、必要とする発受光素子の総数を１
／２に減縮可能とすると共に、発受光素子の配置に必要
な配列基板も１／２となし、これにより、検出分解能を
低下せしめることなく光路マトリックスを確保可能とす
る簡素な構成の光学式タッチパネル装置を実現すること
を基本的な発明の実施の形態としている。In order to form such three parallel optical paths, in the conventional optical touch panel device, the number of facing pairs of the light emitting element and the light receiving element is set to three, that is, three light emitting elements. However, in the first invention of the present invention, one light emitting element and two light receiving elements and one optical path changing body using a plane reflecting mirror are used. The total number of light emitting / receiving elements that can be formed is 1
The optical touch panel has a simple structure that can be reduced to 1/2 and the array substrate required for arranging the light emitting and receiving elements is also halved, whereby the optical path matrix can be secured without lowering the detection resolution. The implementation of the apparatus is a basic embodiment of the invention.
【００２２】なお、図１の場合は、発受光素子の配列単
位として、１つの発光素子と、この発光素子の両側に隣
り合わせて配列する２つの受光素子による発受光素子の
組を利用する構成であるが、同数の光路を確保する他の
発受光素子の組み合わせによる光路マトリックスの形成
を確保するものとしては、図３に示す如く、１つの受光
素子と、この受光素子の両側に隣り合わせて配列する２
つの発光素子の組を利用する構成としてもよく、さら
に、図４に示す如く、隣接配列する２個の発光素子のい
ずれか一方の発光素子に隣り合わせて１つの受光素子を
配列して配列単位を構成してもよく、いずれの場合も、
対応する光路変更体の構成を配慮することによって同一
数の３本の光路形成が配列単位ごとに確保され、必要と
する発受光素子の総数を１／２に減縮して光路マトリッ
クスが形成可能である。In the case of FIG. 1, one light emitting element and a set of light emitting and receiving elements composed of two light receiving elements arranged adjacent to each other on both sides of the light emitting element are used as an array unit of the light emitting and receiving elements. However, as shown in FIG. 3, one light receiving element and one light receiving element are arranged adjacent to each other on both sides of the light receiving element so as to ensure the formation of the optical path matrix by the combination of the other light emitting and receiving elements that ensure the same number of optical paths. Two
It is also possible to use a set of two light emitting elements, and further, as shown in FIG. 4, one light receiving element is arranged adjacent to any one of the two light emitting elements arranged adjacent to each other to form an array unit. May be configured, in either case,
By considering the configuration of the corresponding optical path changing body, the same number of three optical paths can be formed for each array unit, and the total number of required light emitting and receiving elements can be reduced to 1/2 to form an optical path matrix. is there.
【００２３】[0023]
【実施例】次に、図面を参照して本発明を詳細に説明す
る。図１は、本発明の第１の実施例の全体構成を示す平
面図である。図１に示す実施例の構成は、液晶ディスプ
レイやＣＲＴディスプレイ等の表示媒体により画像表示
を行う画像表示装置１と、マニュアルタッチ操作を受け
て座標位置検出のセンサ面として振る舞う座標位置検出
面２と、座標位置検出面２を配設するタッチパネル基板
３とを備える。また、タッチパネル基板３の直交する一
方の周辺の組には、図示しないプリント基板を利用して
配列単位ごとに水平方向に配列される複数Ｎ個の配列単
位による発受光素子配列手段を形成する発光素子４Ｈ−
１，受光素子５Ｈ−１Ａ，５Ｈ−１Ｂ，発光素子４Ｈ−
２，受光素子５Ｈ−２Ａ，５Ｈ−２Ｂ，……，発光素子
４Ｈ−Ｎ，受光素子５Ｈ−ＮＡ，５Ｈ−ＮＢと、垂直方
向に配列される複数Ｍ個の配列単位による発受光素子配
列手段を形成する発光素子４Ｖ−１，受光素子５Ｖ−１
Ａ，５Ｖ−１Ｂ，発光素子４Ｖ−２，受光素子５Ｖ−２
Ａ，５Ｖ−２Ｂ，……，発光素子４Ｖ−Ｍ，受光素子５
Ｖ−ＭＡ，５Ｖ−ＭＢを備える。さらに、これら各発受
光素子の配列単位のそれぞれに対応して、タッチパネル
基板３の直交する他方の周辺の組には、所望の光路を形
成すべく水平方向に配列される光路変更手段としてのＮ
個の光路変更体６Ｈ−１，６Ｈ−２，……，６Ｈ−Ｎ
と、垂直方向に配列される光路変更手段としてのＭ個の
光路変更体６Ｖ−１，６Ｖ−２，……，６Ｖ−Ｍとを備
える。The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes an image display device 1 that displays an image on a display medium such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT display, and a coordinate position detection surface 2 that behaves as a sensor surface for coordinate position detection in response to a manual touch operation. , And a touch panel substrate 3 on which the coordinate position detection surface 2 is provided. In addition, in a pair of adjacent ones of the touch panel substrate 3 that emit light, light emitting / receiving element arranging means is formed by a plurality of N array units arranged in the horizontal direction for each array unit by using a printed board (not shown). Element 4H-
1, light receiving elements 5H-1A, 5H-1B, light emitting element 4H-
2, light receiving elements 5H-2A, 5H-2B, ..., Light emitting elements 4H-N, light receiving elements 5H-NA, 5H-NB, and light emitting / receiving element arranging means by a plurality of M array units arranged in the vertical direction. Forming light emitting element 4V-1 and light receiving element 5V-1
A, 5V-1B, light emitting element 4V-2, light receiving element 5V-2
A, 5V-2B, ..., Light emitting element 4V-M, Light receiving element 5
It is equipped with V-MA and 5V-MB. Further, in correspondence with each of the array units of the respective light emitting / receiving elements, in the other orthogonal group of the touch panel substrate 3, N as an optical path changing means arranged in the horizontal direction to form a desired optical path.
Optical path changing bodies 6H-1, 6H-2, ..., 6H-N
And M optical path changing bodies 6V-1, 6V-2, ..., 6V-M as optical path changing means arranged in the vertical direction.
【００２４】上述した水平及び垂直方向の発受光素子の
配列単位数と光路変更体の数を指定するＮ，Ｍは、互い
に異なる数であっても、また同じ数であっても差し支え
なく、装置の構成内容に対応して任意に設定しうる。
尚、実際の光学式タッチパネル装置には、タッチパネル
としての座標位置検出面２に、マニュアルタッチ操作を
施すキーボードの内容が表示される。The numbers N and M designating the number of array units of light emitting and receiving elements in the horizontal and vertical directions and the number of optical path changing bodies may be different from each other or may be the same number. Can be arbitrarily set according to the configuration contents of
In an actual optical touch panel device, the contents of a keyboard for performing a manual touch operation are displayed on the coordinate position detection surface 2 as a touch panel.
【００２５】次に、図１の実施例の動作について説明す
る。タッチパネル基板３の直交する一方の周辺の組の水
平方向及び垂直方向のそれぞれに配列配置した発受光素
子配列手段を構成する複数の配列単位ごとの各発光素子
から送出される出力光は、いずれも直進して、タッチパ
ネル基板３の直交する他方の周辺の組の水平方向及び垂
直方向のそれぞれの方向に配列配置した、光路変更手段
を構成する光路変更体配列としての複数の光路変更体の
それぞれに投光され、これら光路変更体で２分岐された
後、それぞれの分光は２回の９０°反射を行って、発光
素子の両側に隣り合わせて配置された２つの受光素子に
よって受光され、これによって水平もしくは垂直方向に
３本の光路が形成される。Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The output light emitted from each light emitting element for each of a plurality of array units constituting the light emitting and receiving element arraying means arranged in each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of one set on the periphery of one side of the touch panel substrate 3 is arranged. The optical path changing bodies are arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the other pair of peripherals of the touch panel substrate 3 which are orthogonal to each other, and are arranged in each of a plurality of optical path changing bodies as an optical path changing body array forming the optical path changing means. After being projected and bifurcated by these optical path changing bodies, each spectrum is reflected twice by 90 °, and is received by two light receiving elements that are arranged next to each other on both sides of the light emitting element. Alternatively, three optical paths are formed in the vertical direction.
【００２６】図２は、第１の実施例の構成を示す部分平
面図である。図２を参照しつつ、上述した３本の光路形
成動作について詳述する。図２には、タッチパネル基板
３に配置された、垂直方向配列の発受光素子の配列単位
を構成する１つの発光素子４Ｖ−１と、発光素子４Ｖ−
１に隣り合わせて配置された２つの受光素子５Ｖ−１Ａ
及び５Ｖ−１Ｂと、これら発受光素子の配列単位に対向
して、座標位置検出面２を隔ててタッチパネル基板３の
対向周辺に対向配置される光路変更体６Ｖ−１とを示し
ている。発光素子４Ｖ−１は、例えばＬＥＤ等を利用
し、光路Ｃ２を形成する出力光を送出する。この出力光
は、発光素子４Ｖ−１の有する光学系を介して所定の特
性の光信号として出光され、光路変更体６Ｖ−１の中央
稜線を含む中心部に投光されて、図上左右（上下）に２
分岐されて９０°反射を受ける。左右に２分岐されて９
０°反射された分岐光はそれぞれ、さらに光路変更体６
Ｖ−１で９０°反射され、光路Ｃ１及びＣ３を形成し
て、例えばホトトランジスタ等を利用する受光素子５Ｖ
−１Ａ，５Ｖ−１Ｂに受光せしめられ、かくして３つの
光路Ｃ１、Ｃ２、Ｃ３が検出分解能を決定する等間隔を
保って互いに平行に形成される。FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing the structure of the first embodiment. The above-mentioned three optical path forming operations will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, one light-emitting element 4V-1 and a light-emitting element 4V-, which are arranged on the touch panel substrate 3 and constitute an array unit of light emitting / receiving elements arranged in the vertical direction, are shown.
Two light receiving elements 5V-1A arranged adjacent to each other
And 5V-1B, and an optical path changing body 6V-1 facing the array unit of the light emitting and receiving elements and facing the periphery of the touch panel substrate 3 with the coordinate position detection surface 2 in between. The light emitting element 4V-1 uses, for example, an LED or the like, and outputs the output light forming the optical path C2. This output light is emitted as an optical signal having a predetermined characteristic through the optical system of the light emitting element 4V-1, and is projected onto the central portion of the optical path changing body 6V-1 including the central ridgeline, and left and right (in the figure) 2 up and down)
It is branched and receives a 90 ° reflection. 9 left and right
The branched light reflected by 0 ° is further reflected by the optical path changing body 6.
Light receiving element 5V that is reflected by V-1 at 90 ° and forms optical paths C1 and C3, and uses, for example, a phototransistor
-1A, 5V-1B are made to receive light, and thus three optical paths C1, C2, C3 are formed in parallel with each other at equal intervals that determine the detection resolution.
【００２７】光路変更体６Ｖ−１は、１つの入射光を分
岐したそれぞれの分光に２回の９０°の光路変更を行わ
せて入射光に平行且つ反転したものとして３光路を形成
可能とするものであれば良く、図１及び図２の場合は直
交２平面の開口を有するように、平面反射鏡を直角結合
した反射体として構成する単位光学反射体の２つを、互
いの一方の開口端と他方の開口端とを結合した横断面が
ほぼＷ字形の一体化反射体として構成し、この一体化反
射体の結合部分である中央稜線に対して投光される入射
光は、極めて一部は中央稜線で反射されるものの、その
殆どが中央稜線の左右の２つの４５°傾斜の開口面に投
光されて左右に９０°反射を与えられることとなって、
入射光の２分岐９０°光路変更が行われる。このあと、
中央稜線左右の２つの開口面で、分光はそれぞれさらに
９０°反射による光路変更を施され、受光素子５Ｖ−１
Ａ，５Ｖ−１Ｂで受光されて光路Ｃ１，Ｃ２を形成す
る。尚、説明の都合上、光路Ｃ２は誇張して太く表現し
ている。The optical path changing member 6V-1 makes it possible to form three optical paths by making the respective light beams branched from one incident light change the optical path twice at 90 ° and being parallel and inverted to the incident light. 1 and 2, in the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, two unit optical reflectors configured as a reflector in which plane reflecting mirrors are orthogonally coupled so as to have openings in two planes orthogonal to each other are provided. The end and the other opening end are combined to form an integrated reflector having a substantially W-shaped cross section. The incident light projected to the central ridge line, which is the combined portion of the integrated reflector, is extremely uniform. Although the part is reflected by the central ridgeline, most of it is projected on the two 45 ° inclined opening surfaces on the left and right of the central ridgeline to give 90 ° reflection to the left and right,
Two-path 90 ° optical path change of the incident light is performed. after this,
At the two apertures on the left and right of the central ridge, the light path is changed by the reflection of 90 °, and the light receiving element 5V-1
The light is received by A, 5V-1B to form optical paths C1, C2. For convenience of explanation, the optical path C2 is exaggerated and shown thick.
【００２８】図１及び図２に示す光路変更体は、直交２
平面の反射鏡を、開口面を正面として左右に互いの端部
を結合した構成のものを利用して、入射光に対する２分
光分岐と２回の９０°光路変更を行わせているが、この
ような反射鏡構成の光路変更体に代えて、アクリルや光
ファイバなどの導光性媒体によって２回の９０°光路変
更体を構成することも容易に実施しうる。The optical path changing body shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
A two-way splitting of incident light and two 90 ° optical path changes are performed by using a flat reflecting mirror that has left and right ends coupled to each other with the opening face as a front surface. Instead of the optical path changing body having such a reflecting mirror structure, it is also possible to easily implement the 90 ° optical path changing body twice by a light guide medium such as acrylic or an optical fiber.
【００２９】図５は、本発明の第１の実施例における光
路変更体構成の別例を示す平面図である。図１及び図２
においては、入力光に対する９０°光路変更を２度行わ
せる光路変更手段として、平面反射鏡の組み合わせによ
る左右（上下）１対の１８０°反射体を有する光路変更
体を利用し、その中心部分に入力光を受光せしめること
により、入力光の２分岐１８０°反転による光路形成を
可能としているが、このような光路変更は、入力光に対
して透光性のある導光性媒体で作る２つの直角プリズム
の組み合わせによっても同様に実施することができる。FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another example of the configuration of the optical path changing body in the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2
In the above, as the optical path changing means for changing the 90 ° optical path twice with respect to the input light, an optical path changing body having a pair of left and right (upper and lower) 180 ° reflectors by a combination of flat reflecting mirrors is used, and the center part is provided. By allowing the input light to be received, it is possible to form an optical path by inverting the two branches of the input light by 180 °. However, such an optical path change is made by two light guide media that are transparent to the input light. The same operation can be performed by combining right-angle prisms.
【００３０】図５の（ａ）は、導光性媒体としてアクリ
ル樹脂を用いた２つの直角プリズムとしての、アクリル
樹脂プリズム１０１及び１０２を、一方の直角プリズム
の一方の端部と、他方の直角プリズムの他方の端部とを
相接合した状態で光路Ｃ２の入力光を接合部分に受け、
この入力光を２分岐したのち、２つの直角プリズムによ
る全反射に基づいて、光路Ｃ１及びＣ２の反射光を確保
するものである。また、図５の（ｂ）は、導光性媒体と
して光ファイバを利用して、入力光を２分岐したそれぞ
れを、２度の９０°光路変更せしめるものであり、光フ
ァイバで受光した入力光は光ファイバに与える形状に応
じて、どのようにも光路を設定しうることを利用するも
のである。FIG. 5A shows acrylic resin prisms 101 and 102 as two right-angle prisms using acrylic resin as a light-guiding medium, one end of one right-angle prism and the other right-angle prism. The joint portion receives the input light of the optical path C2 in a state where the other end portion of the prism is jointly joined,
After splitting this input light into two, the reflected light of the optical paths C1 and C2 is secured based on the total reflection by the two rectangular prisms. Further, FIG. 5 (b) shows a case where an optical fiber is used as a light guide medium to change the optical path of each of the two branches of the input light by 90 degrees, and the input light received by the optical fiber is changed. Utilizes the fact that the optical path can be set in any way according to the shape given to the optical fiber.
【００３１】即ち、入力光を極力効率良く受光し、また
出光しうるように受光端と送光端を端末処理した１対の
光ファイバ１０３及び１０４を、それぞれの一端を左右
（上下）に平行に合体して受光端となし、この受光端に
光路Ｃ２の入力光を受光せしめる。光路Ｃ２の入力光
は、２分岐されてそれぞれ光ファイバ１０３及び１０４
を進行し、光路Ｃ１及びＣ２を形成する出力光として送
光される。この場合、１対の光ファイバは、一括して入
力光を受光するように位置決めした受光端と、配列間隔
を保って光路Ｃ１、Ｃ３を形成するように、位置決めす
る送光端との位置設定だけを正しく設定することによ
り、その他のファイバの設定形状は任意に選定し得る。That is, a pair of optical fibers 103 and 104 whose light-receiving end and light-transmitting end are terminal-processed so that input light can be received and emitted as efficiently as possible, and one end of each is parallel to the left and right (up and down). To form a light receiving end, and the input light of the optical path C2 is received by this light receiving end. The input light of the optical path C2 is split into two and is divided into optical fibers 103 and 104 respectively.
And is sent as output light that forms optical paths C1 and C2. In this case, the pair of optical fibers are positioned at a light-receiving end that is positioned so as to collectively receive the input light and a light-transmitting end that is positioned so as to form the optical paths C1 and C3 while maintaining the arrangement interval. Other fiber setting shapes can be arbitrarily selected by properly setting only.
【００３２】このようにして、全発受光素子数を従来の
１／２とした状態で、入力光の２分岐分光と、２分岐し
たそれぞれの分光の２度にわたる９０°光路変更とを行
い、入力光と出力光とを含む３つの光路形成が、水平及
び垂直方向の発受光素子配列の配列単位ごとに確保さ
れ、かくして座標位置検出面下に光路マトリックスが形
成される。尚、このようにして光路マトリックスを形成
する場合、個々の光路の光レベルが同一である必要はな
く、要は、タッチ操作による座標位置検出を可能とする
光路マトリックスが形成されるように光レベルが確保さ
れていれば目的達成上十分である。In this way, with the total number of light emitting and receiving elements reduced to 1/2 of the conventional one, the two-branch spectroscopy of the input light and the 90 ° optical path change of each two-branch of the two branches are performed, The formation of three optical paths including the input light and the output light is ensured for each array unit of the light emitting and receiving element arrays in the horizontal and vertical directions, and thus the optical path matrix is formed below the coordinate position detection surface. When the optical path matrix is formed in this way, the optical levels of the individual optical paths do not have to be the same, and the point is that the optical level matrix that enables coordinate position detection by touch operation is formed. It is sufficient to achieve the purpose if
【００３３】このようにして形成される光路マトリック
スのそれぞれの光路を、マニュアルタッチ操作で光路遮
断すると、配列単位ごとの受光素子での受光状態の相違
で遮断光路の特定が可能となりタッチ操作点の座標位置
が検出される。この第１の実施例では、発光素子が光路
間隔の３倍離隔しているので、通常、順次発光走査で隣
接発光素子を順次発光せしめている従来の光学式タッチ
パネル装置よりも著しく検出時間を短縮することがで
き、同時発光としても、互いに干渉することなく座標位
置検出を可能として、さらには検出時間を短縮すること
も可能である。When each optical path of the optical path matrix formed in this way is blocked by a manual touch operation, the blocked optical path can be specified by the difference in the light receiving state of the light receiving element for each array unit, and the touch operating point can be specified. The coordinate position is detected. In the first embodiment, since the light emitting elements are separated by 3 times the optical path distance, the detection time is usually remarkably shortened as compared with the conventional optical touch panel device in which the adjacent light emitting elements are sequentially made to emit light by sequential light emission scanning. Even if the simultaneous light emission is performed, the coordinate position can be detected without interfering with each other, and the detection time can be shortened.
【００３４】次に、本発明の第２の実施例について説明
する。図３は、本発明の第２の実施例の構成を示す部分
平面図である。図３に示す第２の実施例は、タッチパネ
ル基板３の相直交する周辺の一方の組の水平方向と垂直
方向のそれぞれに配置すべき発受光素子配列手段を構成
する１つの配列単位として、１個の受光素子５と、この
受光素子５の両側に、光路間隔に対応する配列間隔で配
置する１対２個の発光素子４−Ａ及び４−Ｂを備え、ま
た光路変更手段としては、図２に示す第１の実施例とほ
ぼ同じ平面反射鏡の組み合わせ構成で成る光路変更体６
を、発受光素子配列手段の配列単位に対応して備えた構
成を有する。Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, as one array unit that constitutes the light emitting and receiving element array means to be arranged in each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of one set of the periphery of the touch panel substrate 3 which intersects at right angles, One light receiving element 5 and one to two light emitting elements 4-A and 4-B arranged on both sides of the light receiving element 5 at an array interval corresponding to the optical path interval. An optical path changing body 6 having a combination of plane reflecting mirrors which is almost the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Is provided corresponding to the array unit of the light emitting and receiving element array means.
【００３５】次に、第２の実施例の動作について説明す
る。配列単位ごとの２個の発光素子４−Ａ，４−Ｂから
送出される出力光は、それぞれ光路Ｃ４，Ｃ５を形成し
つつ、光路変更体６に投光される。光路変更体６は、光
路Ｃ４及びＣ５を形成して投光された入力光に対し、互
いに相反する方向に２度の９０°光路変更を与え、２度
目の９０°光路変更では、光路変更体６の中央稜線前方
に２つの入力光の反射光を集光して光路Ｃ６を形成する
反射光として送出し、この反射光は受光素子５に受光さ
れ、かくして、配列単位ごとに３つの平行光路が形成さ
れる。尚、図３においては、光路Ｃ４及びＣ５を辿って
集光されて形成される光路Ｃ６を、説明の都合上、実際
よりも誇張して太く表現してある。上記のように構成さ
れた光路において、どの光路が遮断されたかは、次のよ
うに判別特定される。発光素子は従来通り順次点灯され
る。例えば、図３において左から右へ順次点灯されるも
のとすれば、発光素子４−Ａが点灯され次いで消灯され
たら、次は発光素子４−Ｂが点灯消灯を行う。このよう
な状態で、光路Ｃ４を遮断した場合、発光素子４−Ａが
点灯しても受光素子５は受光せず、発光素子４−Ａが消
灯した次に、発光素子４−Ｂが点灯すると受光素子５は
受光する。光路Ｃ６を遮断した場合には、発光素子４−
Ａが点灯しても同４−Ｂが点灯しても、受光素子５は受
光しない。光路Ｃ５を遮断した場合には、発光素子４−
Ａが点灯したとき、受光素子５は受光し、発光素子４−
Ａが消灯した次に発光素子４−Ｂが点灯すると受光素子
５は受光しない。このように、どの光路を遮断したかに
よって受光素子の受光状態が異なるから、逆に受光素子
の受光状態を見ることによってどの光路が遮断されたか
が判別特定されることとなる。 Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. The output light emitted from the two light emitting elements 4-A and 4-B for each array unit is projected onto the optical path changing body 6 while forming the optical paths C4 and C5, respectively. The optical path changing body 6 gives 90 ° optical path change of two degrees in opposite directions to the input light projected by forming the optical paths C4 and C5, and in the second 90 ° optical path change, the optical path changing body 6 is provided. The reflected light of the two input lights is collected in front of the central ridgeline of 6 and is sent out as the reflected light forming the optical path C6. The reflected light is received by the light receiving element 5, and thus three parallel optical paths are provided for each array unit. Is formed. Note that, in FIG. 3, the optical path C6 formed by converging the optical paths C4 and C5 is exaggerated and made thicker than it actually is for convenience of description. Configured as above
Which light path is blocked in the selected light path is as follows.
It is identified and identified as follows. The light emitting elements are sequentially turned on as before.
It For example, in FIG. 3, the lights are sequentially lit from left to right.
If so, the light emitting element 4-A is turned on and then turned off.
Then, the light emitting element 4-B is turned on and off next. like this
When the light path C4 is cut off in such a state, the light emitting element 4-A is
Even if the light is turned on, the light receiving element 5 does not receive light, and the light emitting element 4-A is turned off.
Next, when the light emitting element 4-B is turned on after the light is turned on, the light receiving element 5
Receive light. When the optical path C6 is cut off, the light emitting element 4-
Even if A is turned on or 4-B is turned on, the light receiving element 5 receives light.
Doesn't glow When the light path C5 is cut off, the light emitting element 4-
When A is turned on, the light receiving element 5 receives the light and the light emitting element 4-
When A is turned off and then light emitting element 4-B is turned on, the light receiving element
5 does not receive light. In this way, which optical path was blocked
Therefore, the light receiving state of the light receiving element is different.
Which optical path was blocked by looking at the light receiving state of
Will be identified and specified.
【００３６】上述した第２の実施例は、観点を変える
と、前述した第１の実施例において、光学系における光
進行の可逆性に基づいて３本の光路形成を確保するもの
と考えることができる。つまり、この第２の実施例も、
光路変更手段として、上述した平面反射鏡の組み合わせ
利用の他に、図５の（ａ），（ｂ）に示す光路変更手段
も可逆的に、逆方向光路で利用し得ることは明らかであ
る。かくして、第２の実施例も、配列すべき全発受光素
子数を従来の１／２として、検出分解能を劣化すること
なく座標位置検出を行うことができる。From a different point of view, it can be considered that the second embodiment described above secures the formation of three optical paths based on the reversibility of the light traveling in the optical system in the first embodiment described above. it can. In other words, this second embodiment also
As the optical path changing means, it is obvious that the optical path changing means shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B can be used reversibly in the backward optical path, in addition to the combined use of the above-mentioned flat reflecting mirrors. Thus, also in the second embodiment, it is possible to detect the coordinate position without degrading the detection resolution by halving the total number of light emitting / receiving elements to be arranged.
【００３７】次に、本発明の第３の実施例について説明
する。図４の（ａ）は、本発明の第３の実施例の構成を
示す部分平面図である。図４の（ａ）に示す第３の実施
例は、発受光素子配列手段を構成する複数の配列単位の
１つを形成する２つの発光素子４−Ｃ及び４−Ｄと、１
つの受光素子５Ｘと、この配列単位の発光素子の２つの
出力光を受けてこれら２つの出力光を集光し、反射によ
り２つの出力光に平行な第３の光路を形成して出力光と
共に配列単位ごとに３つの光路形成を可能ならしめる光
路変更手段としての光路変更体６Ｘとを備えた構成を有
する。Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4A is a partial plan view showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, two light emitting elements 4-C and 4-D that form one of a plurality of array units that constitute the light emitting and receiving element array means, and
One light receiving element 5X and the two output lights of the light emitting elements of this array unit are received, these two output lights are condensed, and a third optical path parallel to the two output lights is formed by reflection, and together with the output light. An optical path changing body 6X as an optical path changing unit that enables formation of three optical paths for each array unit.
【００３８】次に、第３の実施例の動作について説明す
る。配列単位を構成する２つの発光素子４−Ｃ及び４−
Ｄ、並びに受光素子５Ｘは、互いに光路間隔に対応する
配列間隔を保って配置される。２つの発光素子４−Ｃ，
４−Ｄの出力光は、それぞれ光路Ｃ７，Ｃ８を確保して
光路変更体６Ｘに平行に投光される。光路変更体６Ｘ
は、図４の（ｂ）に示すように、入力光に対して４５°
の傾角を有する平面反射鏡利用のミラー６１Ｘと、ミラ
ー６１Ｘと光路間隔を保って平行配置されたハーフミラ
ーとしての半透過ミラー６２Ｘと、半透過ミラー６２Ｘ
と９０°の頂角を保って結合させたミラー６３Ｘとを備
える。発光素子４−Ｃ及び４−Ｄからの出力光はそれぞ
れ、光路Ｃ７及びＣ８を形成してミラー６１Ｘ及び半透
過ミラー６２Ｘに投光される。光路Ｃ７を形成してミラ
ー６１Ｘに投光された発光素子４−Ｃの出力光は、ミラ
ー６１Ｘで９０°の光路変更を受けて半透過ミラー６２
Ｘに受光される。Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. Two light emitting elements 4-C and 4-that form an array unit
D and the light-receiving element 5X are arranged with an arrangement interval corresponding to the optical path interval. Two light emitting elements 4-C,
The output light of 4-D is projected in parallel to the optical path changing body 6X while securing the optical paths C7 and C8. Optical path changer 6X
Is 45 ° relative to the input light, as shown in FIG.
61X using a plane reflecting mirror having an inclination angle of, a semi-transmissive mirror 62X as a half mirror and a semi-transmissive mirror 62X arranged in parallel with the mirror 61X with an optical path interval.
And a mirror 63X which is coupled while maintaining an apex angle of 90 °. Output lights from the light emitting elements 4-C and 4-D form optical paths C7 and C8, respectively, and are projected onto the mirror 61X and the semi-transmissive mirror 62X. The output light of the light emitting element 4-C, which forms the optical path C7 and is projected onto the mirror 61X, undergoes a 90 ° optical path change at the mirror 61X and undergoes a semi-transmissive mirror 62.
The light is received by X.
【００３９】また、光路Ｃ８を形成して半透過ミラー６
２Ｘに投光された発光素子４−Ｄの出力光は、半透過ミ
ラーで９０°の光路変更を受けてミラー６３Ｘに受光さ
れる。ミラー６１Ｘによる９０°光路変更光は、半透過
ミラー６２Ｘを透過して、光路Ｃ８を形成して半透過ミ
ラー６２Ｘに受光し９０°の光路変更を受けた反射光と
同方向に集光し、ミラー６３Ｘで９０°の反射を行って
光路Ｃ９を形成して受光素子５Ｘに受光され、かくして
Ｃ７，Ｃ８及びＣ９による３つの平行な光路が配列単位
ごとに形成されることとなる。上記のように構成された
光路において、どの光路が遮断されたかは、次のように
判別特定される。発光素子は図３の場合と同様順次点灯
される。図４において、例えば、左から右へと順次点灯
されるとすれば、発光素子４−Ｃが点灯し消灯した次に
発光素子４−Ｄが点灯し消灯する。このような順次点灯
のもとで、光路Ｃ７を遮断した場合には、発光素子４−
Ｃが点灯したときには、受光素子５Ｘは受光せず、発光
素子４−Ｄが点灯したときに受光する。光路Ｃ８を遮断
した場合には、受光素子５Ｘは、発光素子４−Ｃが点灯
したときに受光し、発光素子４−Ｄが点灯したときには
受光しない。光路Ｃ９を遮断した場合には、発光素子４
−Ｃが点灯したときも同４−Ｄが点灯したときも、受光
素子５Ｘは受光しない。このように、どの光路を遮断し
たかによって、受光素子の受光状態が異なるから、逆に
受光素子の受光状態を見ることによってどの光路が遮断
されたかが判別特定されることになる。このような光路
成形が、発受光素子配列手段のすべての配列単位と、光
路変更手段のすべての光路変更体の対応組み合わせ間で
確保され、従来の１／２の発受光素子数による光路マト
リックスが、検出分解能を低下することなく形成され
る。Further, the semi-transmissive mirror 6 is formed by forming the optical path C8.
The output light of the light emitting element 4-D projected onto 2X is subjected to the optical path change of 90 ° by the semi-transmissive mirror and is received by the mirror 63X. The 90 ° optical path changing light by the mirror 61X passes through the semi-transmissive mirror 62X, forms an optical path C8, is received by the semi-transmissive mirror 62X, and is condensed in the same direction as the reflected light subjected to the 90 ° optical path change, The light is reflected by the mirror 63X at 90 ° to form an optical path C9 and is received by the light receiving element 5X, and thus three parallel optical paths by C7, C8 and C9 are formed for each array unit. Configured as above
In the light path, which light path was blocked is as follows.
Determined and specified. The light emitting elements are turned on sequentially as in the case of FIG.
To be done. In FIG. 4, for example, the lights are turned on sequentially from left to right.
If the light emitting element 4-C is turned on and then turned off,
The light emitting element 4-D is turned on and off. Such sequential lighting
When the optical path C7 is cut off under
When C lights up, the light receiving element 5X does not receive light and emits light.
Light is received when the element 4-D is turned on. Block optical path C8
When the light-receiving element 5X is turned on, the light-emitting element 4-C is turned on.
When the light emitting element 4-D lights up
Does not receive light. When the light path C9 is cut off, the light emitting element 4
Light is received when -C is lit and when 4-D is lit.
The element 5X does not receive light. In this way, which optical path is blocked
On the contrary, the light receiving state of the light receiving element differs depending on the temperature.
Which optical path is blocked by checking the light receiving status of the light receiving element
Whether it has been done will be identified and specified. Such optical path shaping is ensured between the corresponding combinations of all the array units of the light emitting / receiving element arraying means and all the optical path changing bodies of the optical path changing means, and the optical path matrix with the number of the light emitting / receiving elements of 1/2 of the conventional one is obtained. , Is formed without lowering the detection resolution.
【００４０】ところで、上述した第３の実施例では、光
路変更手段を構成する光路変更体を、半透過ミラーを含
む平面反射鏡の適宜組み合わせに基づいて構成している
が、これを、アクリル樹脂や光ファイバなどの導光性媒
体の適宜組み合わせによって置換構成することも容易に
実施しうる。即ち、図４において、例えば光路Ｃ７の入
力光の９０°反射を、アクリル樹脂構成の直角プリズム
の全反射を利用して確保し、さらに、半透過ミラー６２
Ｘとミラー６３Ｘにより形成する光学系を、他のアクリ
ル樹脂直角プリズム利用で置換しても同様な光路形成が
可能である。By the way, in the above-mentioned third embodiment, the optical path changing body which constitutes the optical path changing means is constructed based on an appropriate combination of the plane reflecting mirrors including the semi-transmissive mirror. It is also possible to easily implement the replacement configuration by appropriately combining a light guide medium such as a fiber or an optical fiber. That is, in FIG. 4, for example, 90 ° reflection of the input light on the optical path C7 is ensured by utilizing the total reflection of the rectangular prism made of an acrylic resin, and further, the semi-transmissive mirror 62 is used.
Even if the optical system formed by X and the mirror 63X is replaced with another acrylic resin rectangular prism, the same optical path can be formed.
【００４１】また、隣接して平行配列した２本の光ファ
イバで光路Ｃ７，Ｃ８の２光路の送光を受光し、これを
さらに他の１本の光ファイバに受光せしめて集光するこ
とにより、２つの受光光路と平行に送出した第３の平行
光路を形成することなども容易に実施しうることは明ら
かである。Further, the two optical fibers arranged in parallel adjacent to each other receive the light transmitted through the two optical paths C7 and C8, and the other one optical fiber receives the light and collects it. Obviously, it is also possible to easily form a third parallel optical path that is transmitted in parallel with the two light receiving optical paths.
【００４２】[0042]
【発明の効果】以上説明したように本発明によれは、光
学式タッチパネル装置において、タッチパネル基板周辺
の対向する水平方向及び垂直方向に対し、一方の水平方
向と垂直方向の組に対しては発光素子を、また他方の水
平方向と垂直方向の組に対しては受光素子を発光素子に
対向して配列して光路マトリックスを形成することに代
え、一方の水平方向と垂直方向の組に対しては、１つの
発光素子と２つの受光素子、もしくは２つの発光素子と
１つの受光素子の組み合わせを適宜、形成すべき光路の
間隔に対応する配列間隔を保って配列したものを配列単
位として配列し、他方の水平方向と垂直方向の組に対し
ては、配列単位と対向して発光素子の光路を変更して発
光光路と共に配列単位ごとに３つの平行な光路を形成す
る光路変更体を配置することにより、検出分解能を低下
することなく必要とする発受光素子数の総数を１／２に
減縮するとともに、発受光素子の配置基板も１／２とす
ることができて装置構成を著しく簡素化し、且つ検出動
作も発光素子数に対応して著しく迅速化しうる安価な構
成の光学式タッチパネル装置を実現しうる効果を有す
る。As described above, according to the present invention, in an optical touch panel device, light is emitted to a pair of horizontal and vertical directions facing each other on the periphery of the touch panel substrate. Instead of forming the optical path matrix by arranging the light receiving elements facing the light emitting elements for the other horizontal and vertical pairs, for one horizontal and vertical pair. Is an array unit in which one light-emitting element and two light-receiving elements or a combination of two light-emitting elements and one light-receiving element are appropriately arranged with an array interval corresponding to the interval of the optical path to be formed. For the other set in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, an optical path changing body that opposes the array unit and changes the optical path of the light emitting element to form three parallel optical paths for each array unit together with the emission optical path is arranged. By doing so, the total number of required light emitting / receiving elements can be reduced to 1/2 without lowering the detection resolution, and the substrate on which the light emitting / receiving elements are arranged can also be reduced to 1/2, thus significantly simplifying the device configuration. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to realize an optical touch panel device having an inexpensive structure in which the number of light emitting elements is increased and the detection operation can be significantly speeded up corresponding to the number of light emitting elements.
【図１】本発明の第１の実施例の光学式タッチパネル装
置の全体構成を示す平面図である。FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of an optical touch panel device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
【図２】本発明の第１の実施例の構成を示す部分平面図
である。FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.
【図３】本発明の第２の実施例の構成を示す部分平面図
である。FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention.
【図４】本発明の第３の実施例の構成を示す部分平面図
（ａ）、及び光路変更体の構成を示す平面図（ｂ）であ
る。FIG. 4 is a partial plan view (a) showing a configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention and a plan view (b) showing a configuration of an optical path changing body.
【図５】本発明の第１の実施例における光路変更体構成
の別例を示す平面図である。FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another example of the configuration of the optical path changing body in the first embodiment of the present invention.
【図６】従来の光学式タッチパネル装置の全体構成を示
す平面図である。FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a conventional optical touch panel device.
１ 画像表示装置
２ 座標位置検出面
３ タッチパネル基板
４−Ａ〜４−Ｄ，４Ｖ−１〜４Ｖ−Ｍ，４Ｈ−１〜４Ｈ
−Ｎ 発光素子
５，５Ｘ，５Ｖ−１Ａ，１Ｂ〜５Ｖ−ＭＡ，ＭＢ 受光
素子
５Ｈ−１Ａ，１Ｂ〜５Ｈ−ＮＡ，ＮＢ 受光素子
６，６Ｘ，６Ｖ−１〜６Ｖ−Ｍ，６Ｈ−１〜６Ｈ−Ｎ
光路変更体
１０ 画像表示装置
２０ タッチパネル基板
３０ 座標位置検出面
４０Ｖ−１〜４０Ｖ−６，４０Ｈ−１〜４０Ｈ−８ 発
光素子
５０Ｖ−１〜５０Ｖ−６，５０Ｈ−１〜５０Ｈ−８ 受
光素子
６１Ｘ，６３Ｘ ミラー
６２Ｘ 半透過ミラー
１０１，１０２ アクリル樹脂プリズム
１０３，１０４ 光ファイバ1 Image Display 2 Coordinate Position Detection Surface 3 Touch Panel Substrates 4-A to 4-D, 4V-1 to 4V-M, 4H-1 to 4H
-N light emitting element 5, 5X, 5V-1A, 1B to 5V-MA, MB light receiving element 5H-1A, 1B to 5H-NA, NB light receiving element 6, 6X, 6V-1 to 6V-M, 6H-1 to 6H-N
Optical path changing body 10 Image display device 20 Touch panel substrate 30 Coordinate position detection surface 40V-1 to 40V-6, 40H-1 to 40H-8 Light emitting element 50V-1 to 50V-6, 50H-1 to 50H-8 Light receiving element 61X , 63X mirror 62X transflective mirror 101, 102 acrylic resin prism 103, 104 optical fiber
───────────────────────────────────────────────────── フロントページの続き (56)参考文献 特開 昭53−98730（ＪＰ，Ａ) 特開 昭60−75928（ＪＰ，Ａ) 特開 平２−114312（ＪＰ，Ａ) 特開 平３−15920（ＪＰ，Ａ) 実開 昭62−62351（ＪＰ，Ｕ) 実開 昭62−51439（ＪＰ，Ｕ) 実開 昭58−122141（ＪＰ，Ｕ) 特公 平５−76648（ＪＰ，Ｂ２) (58)調査した分野(Int.Cl.7，ＤＢ名) G06F 3/033 - 3/037 G06F 3/03 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-53-98730 (JP, A) JP-A-60-75928 (JP, A) JP-A-2-114312 (JP, A) JP-A-3- 15920 (JP, A) Actually opened 62-62351 (JP, U) Actually opened 62-51439 (JP, U) Actually opened 58-122141 (JP, U) JP-B 5-76648 (JP, B2) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. 7 , DB name) G06F 3/033-3/037 G06F 3/03
Claims (6)
ル基板周辺の対向する水平方向と垂直方向との間に、発
光素子と受光素子間の送受光に基づいて直交座標系を表
現する光路マトリックスを形成し、タッチパネルに対す
るタッチ操作で光路マトリックスの光路を遮断すること
によりタッチ操作を施した位置の座標情報を検出する光
学式タッチパネル装置であって、１つの発光素子と、こ
の発光素子の両側に前記座標情報の検出分解能に対応し
て設定した配列間隔で配置する２つの受光素子とから成
る発受光素子の１組を配列単位となし、この配列単位を
前記タッチパネル基板周辺の直交する一方の組の水平方
向と垂直方向とにそれぞれ複数前記配列間隔を保って配
列する発受光素子配列手段と、前記発受光素子配列手段
の配列単位ごとの発光素子の出力光を前記タッチパネル
基板周辺の直交する他方の組の水平方向と垂直方向とに
おいて受光したうえこれを２分岐し、２分岐したそれぞ
れの光路に対して互いに反対方向に９０°の光路変更を
２度施し、入力光と前記配列間隔を保って平行且つ逆方
向に進行させて前記配列単位ごとの２つの受光素子に受
光せしめることにより、前記発受光素子配列手段の配列
単位ごとに互いに前記配列間隔を保って平行な３本の光
路を発生しつつ前記光路マトリックスを形成せしめる光
路変更手段とを備えることを特徴とする光学式タッチパ
ネル装置。1. An optical path matrix that expresses an orthogonal coordinate system based on light transmission and reception between a light emitting element and a light receiving element is formed between opposed horizontal and vertical directions around a touch panel substrate having a touch panel. An optical touch panel device that detects coordinate information of a position where the touch operation is performed by blocking the optical path of the optical path matrix by touch operation on the touch panel, and includes one light emitting element and the coordinates on both sides of the light emitting element. One set of light emitting / receiving elements consisting of two light receiving elements arranged at an array interval set corresponding to the detection resolution of information is defined as an array unit, and this array unit is one of the horizontal pairs of the orthogonal to the periphery of the touch panel substrate. A plurality of light emitting and receiving element arranging means arranged in the vertical direction and the plurality of light emitting and receiving element arranging means, respectively, and an array unit of the light emitting and receiving element arranging means The output light of the optical element is received in the other set of the orthogonal to the periphery of the touch panel substrate in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and is branched into two, and the optical paths are 90 ° in opposite directions with respect to each of the two branched optical paths. By performing the change twice, the light is made to travel in parallel and in the opposite direction while maintaining the arrangement distance with respect to the input light so that the two light receiving elements for each of the array units receive the light, so that the light emitting and receiving element arranging means array units are mutually arranged. An optical touch panel device comprising: an optical path changing unit that forms the optical path matrix while generating the three parallel optical paths with the arrangement interval maintained.
ル基板周辺の対向する水平方向と垂直方向との間に、発
光素子と受光素子間の送受光に基づいて直交座標系を表
現する光路マトリックスを形成し、タッチパネルに対す
るタッチ操作で光路マトリックスの光路を遮断すること
によりタッチ操作を施した位置の座標情報を検出する光
学式タッチパネル装置であって、１つの受光素子と、こ
の受光素子の両側に前記座標情報の検出分解能に対応し
て設定した配列間隔で配置する２つの発光素子とから成
る発受光素子の１組を配列単位となし、この配列単位を
前記タッチパネル基板の直交する一方の組の水平方向と
垂直方向とにそれぞれ複数前記配列間隔を保って配列す
る発受光素子配列手段と、前記発受光素子配列手段の配
列単位ごとの２つの発光素子による２つの出力光を前記
タッチパネル基板周辺の直交する他方の組の水平方向と
垂直方向とにおいて受光したそれぞれの光路に対して互
いに反対方向に９０°の光路変更を２度施し、前記２つ
の出力光の中心方向に集光して２つの出力光とは逆方向
に進行させて前記配列単位ごとの受光素子に受光せしめ
ることにより、前記発受光素子配列手段の配列単位ごと
に互いに前記配列間隔を保って平行な３本の光路を発生
しつつ前記光路マトリックスを形成せしめる光路変更手
段とを備えることを特徴とする光学式タッチパネル装
置。2. An optical path matrix that expresses an orthogonal coordinate system based on light transmission / reception between a light emitting element and a light receiving element is formed between opposed horizontal and vertical directions around a touch panel substrate formed by disposing a touch panel. An optical touch panel device that detects coordinate information of a position where the touch operation is performed by blocking the optical path of the optical path matrix by touch operation on the touch panel, and includes one light receiving element and the coordinates on both sides of the light receiving element. One set of light emitting / receiving elements consisting of two light emitting elements arranged at an array interval set corresponding to the detection resolution of information is defined as an array unit, and this array unit is one set of the touch panel substrates in the horizontal direction. And a plurality of light emitting / receiving element arranging means for arranging the light emitting / receiving element arranging means in the vertical direction, and two light emitting / receiving element arranging means The two output lights from the light-emitting element are received in the other pair of the horizontal and vertical directions around the touch panel substrate, which are orthogonal to each other, and the two optical paths are changed by 90 ° in opposite directions. By converging the two output lights in the central direction and advancing in the opposite direction to the two output lights to be received by the light receiving element for each of the array units, the array units of the light emitting and receiving element arraying means are arranged to each other. An optical touch panel device, comprising: an optical path changing unit that forms the optical path matrix while generating three parallel optical paths at intervals.
ル基板周辺の対向する水平方向と垂直方向との間に、発
光素子と受光素子間の送受光に基づいて直交座標系を表
現する光路マトリックスを形成し、タッチパネルに対す
るタッチ操作で光路マトリックスの光路を遮断すること
によりタッチ操作を施した位置の座標情報を検出する光
学式タッチパネル装置であって、前記座標情報の検出分
解能に対応して設定した配列間隔で配置する２つの発光
素子と、これら発光素子のいずれか一方に隣り合わせ且
つ前記配列間隔を保って配置する１つの受光素子とから
成る発受光素子の１組を配列単位となし、この配列単位
を前記タッチパネル基板周辺の直交する一方の組の水平
方向と垂直方向とにそれぞれ複数前記配列間隔を保って
配列する発受光素子配列手段と、前記発受光素子配列手
段の配列単位ごとの２つの発光素子の出力光を前記タッ
チパネル基板周辺の直交する他方の組の水平方向と垂直
方向とで受け、この２つの入力光のそれぞれの光路に対
して９０°の光路変更を施して同方向を指向せしめて集
光したのち、この集光の光路に９０°光路変更を施して
前記配列単位ごとの受光素子に受光せしめることによ
り、前記発受光素子配列手段の配列単位ごとに互いに前
記配列間隔を保って平行な３本の光路を発生しつつ前記
光路マトリックスを形成せしめる光路変更手段とを備え
ることを特徴する光学式タッチパネル装置。3. An optical path matrix that expresses an orthogonal coordinate system based on light transmission / reception between a light emitting element and a light receiving element is formed between opposed horizontal and vertical directions around a touch panel substrate formed by disposing a touch panel. An optical touch panel device that detects the coordinate information of the position where the touch operation is performed by blocking the optical path of the optical path matrix by the touch operation on the touch panel, and the array interval set corresponding to the detection resolution of the coordinate information. One set of light emitting / receiving elements, which is composed of two light emitting elements that are arranged in 1 and one light receiving element that is adjacent to either one of the light emitting elements and is arranged with the arrangement interval, is defined as an array unit. A plurality of light emitting and receiving elements arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of one pair of the periphery of the touch panel substrate at the above-mentioned arrangement intervals, respectively. The array unit and the output light of the two light emitting elements for each array unit of the light emitting and receiving element array unit are received by the other pair of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction which are orthogonal to each other around the touch panel substrate, and each of the two input lights. By changing the optical path of 90 ° with respect to the optical path of, and converging in the same direction, and then changing the optical path of this condensing light by 90 ° and allowing the light receiving element for each array unit to receive light, An optical touch panel device, comprising: an optical path changing means for forming the optical path matrix while generating three parallel optical paths with the array spacing maintained for each array unit of the light emitting and receiving element array means.
置において、前記光路変更手段による入力光の２分岐並
びにこの２分岐による分光の２度の９０°光路変更を、
複数の平面反射鏡の組み合わせ反射による光路の変更、
もしくはアクリル樹脂等の導光性媒体で形成する複数の
直角プリズムの全反射による光路の変更、または光ファ
イバの形状設定による光路の変更のいずれかに基づいて
確保する構成を備えたことを特徴とする光学式タッチパ
ネル装置。4. The optical touch panel device according to claim 1, wherein the input light is split into two by the optical path changing unit, and the two-branch 90 ° optical path is changed.
Change of optical path by combination reflection of multiple plane reflectors,
Alternatively, it is provided with a configuration that is secured based on either the change of the optical path by total reflection of a plurality of right-angle prisms formed of a light guide medium such as acrylic resin or the change of the optical path by setting the shape of the optical fiber. Optical touch panel device.
置において、前記光路変更手段による２つの入力光の集
光と、この集光の２つの入力光に対する逆方向の平行送
光とを、複数の平面反射鏡の組み合わせ反射による光路
の変更、もしくはアクリル樹脂等の導光性媒体で形成す
る複数の直角プリズムの全反射による光路の変更、また
は光ファイバの形状設定による光路の変更のいずれかに
基づいて確保する構成を備えたことを特徴とする光学式
タッチパネル装置。5. The optical touch panel device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of input light beams are condensed by the optical path changing means and a plurality of parallel light beams are transmitted in opposite directions with respect to the two input light beams. Either the change of the optical path by the combined reflection of the plane reflecting mirrors, the change of the optical path by the total reflection of a plurality of rectangular prisms formed of a light guide medium such as acrylic resin, or the change of the optical path by setting the shape of the optical fiber. An optical touch panel device having a configuration for securing based on the above.
置において、前記光路変更手段による２つの入力光の集
光と、この集光の入力光に対する逆方向の平行送光を、
複数の平面反射鏡と半透過鏡の反射並びに組み合わせ反
射による光路の変更、もしくはアクリル樹脂等の導光性
媒体で形成する複数の直角プリズムの全反射による光路
の変更、または光ファイバの形状設定並びに複数利用の
いずれかに基づいて確保する構成を備えたことを特徴と
する光学式タッチパネル装置。6. The optical touch panel device according to claim 3, wherein the two optical paths are converged by the optical path changing means, and parallel light is transmitted in a direction opposite to the condensed input light.
Changing the optical path by reflection and combination reflection of a plurality of plane reflecting mirrors and semi-transmissive mirrors, or changing the optical path by total reflection of a plurality of right-angle prisms formed of a light guide medium such as acrylic resin, or setting the shape of an optical fiber. An optical touch panel device having a configuration that is secured based on one of a plurality of uses.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP07127999A JP3448704B2 (en) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-03-17 | Optical touch panel device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP07127999A JP3448704B2 (en) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-03-17 | Optical touch panel device |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JP2000267810A JP2000267810A (en) | 2000-09-29 |
| JP3448704B2 true JP3448704B2 (en) | 2003-09-22 |
Family
ID=13456124
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP07127999A Expired - Fee Related JP3448704B2 (en) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-03-17 | Optical touch panel device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP3448704B2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2005038729A (en) | 2003-07-16 | 2005-02-10 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | El display device |
| JP2006079589A (en) | 2004-08-05 | 2006-03-23 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Touch panel |
| WO2009086836A1 (en) * | 2008-01-11 | 2009-07-16 | Danmarks Tekniske Universitet | A touch-sensitive device |
| US8200051B2 (en) * | 2008-03-24 | 2012-06-12 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Apparatus using waveguide, optical touch panel, and method of fabricating waveguide |
| JP4623154B2 (en) | 2008-07-24 | 2011-02-02 | エプソンイメージングデバイス株式会社 | Illumination device, coordinate input device, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus |
| DE102008063080B4 (en) * | 2008-12-24 | 2011-05-26 | Pantron Instruments Gmbh | photocell |
| KR101588001B1 (en) * | 2009-11-16 | 2016-01-26 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Display apparatus |
| KR101627715B1 (en) | 2009-11-18 | 2016-06-14 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Touch Panel, Driving Method for Touch Panel, and Display Apparatus having a Touch Panel |
| JP5668416B2 (en) * | 2010-11-05 | 2015-02-12 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Optical detection apparatus, electronic apparatus, and optical detection method |
| CN106354344B (en) * | 2016-09-14 | 2019-04-16 | 青岛海信电器股份有限公司 | The method and terminal device of touch location are detected in infrared touch panel |
| JP7178990B2 (en) * | 2017-04-28 | 2022-11-28 | 株式会社半導体エネルギー研究所 | optical module or electronic equipment |
| CN108511465A (en) * | 2018-04-28 | 2018-09-07 | 武汉华星光电技术有限公司 | Embedded touch array substrate, display panel and manufacturing method |
-
1999
- 1999-03-17 JP JP07127999A patent/JP3448704B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2000267810A (en) | 2000-09-29 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| JP3448704B2 (en) | Optical touch panel device | |
| US5196836A (en) | Touch panel display | |
| EP0365232A2 (en) | Integrated liquid crystal display and optical touch panel | |
| JP5306329B2 (en) | Touch screen that detects multiple contacts | |
| US7432893B2 (en) | Input device based on frustrated total internal reflection | |
| JP4513918B2 (en) | Illumination device and electro-optical device | |
| US6654007B2 (en) | Coordinate input and detection device and information display and input apparatus | |
| US6175679B1 (en) | Optical keyboard | |
| US8384682B2 (en) | Optical interactive panel and display system with optical interactive panel | |
| CN101313173B (en) | Lighting device | |
| JP6757779B2 (en) | Non-contact input device | |
| US9128250B2 (en) | Optical systems for infrared touch screens | |
| KR20010051589A (en) | Optical digitizer with function to recognize kinds of pointing instruments | |
| CN101484867A (en) | A light guide plate for system inputting coordinate contactlessly, a system comprising the same and a method for inputting coordinate contactlessly using the same | |
| AU2010218345A1 (en) | Dynamic rear-projected user interface | |
| KR101657216B1 (en) | Touch panel and touch position detection method of touch panel | |
| US20180348960A1 (en) | Input device | |
| US4646062A (en) | Key input device | |
| JP2021521480A (en) | Display device especially for vehicles | |
| TWI436253B (en) | Optical touch apparatus and operating method thereof | |
| KR20120055956A (en) | Touch screen device using optical fiber | |
| US20130170185A1 (en) | Display device with optical recognition of inputting instrument | |
| KR101243614B1 (en) | Optical touch screen apparatus | |
| JP2814490B2 (en) | Coordinate input device | |
| CN212933499U (en) | Display panel and display device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A01 | Written decision to grant a patent or to grant a registration (utility model) |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A01 Effective date: 20030603 |
|
| R250 | Receipt of annual fees |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: R250 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20090711 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20100711 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20100711 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20100711 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20110711 Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20110711 Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20110711 Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20120711 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
| FPAY | Renewal fee payment (event date is renewal date of database) |
Free format text: PAYMENT UNTIL: 20120711 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
| LAPS | Cancellation because of no payment of annual fees |